Trenching machine attachment for widening trench bottom with dirt removing auger

ABSTRACT

An attachment for a trenching machine for widening the bottom of the trench. A first member is mounted to the trenching machine and has a second member pivotally mounted thereon. A third member pivotally mounted to the second member has a rotatably driven auger mounted thereon along with a plurality of blades positioned on the auger. The blades enlarge the bottom of the trench with the dirt being conveyed upwardly by the auger. A pair of plates are slidably mounted to the third member and are extendable outwardly against the bottom side walls of the trench. A cylinder motor connected between the second and third member positions the plates and blade cutting edges with respect to the vertical axis. Another hydraulic cylinder motor connected to and between the first and second members is operable to pivot the auger and blades into and out of the trench.

United States Patent [1 1 McMurray 1 July 29, 1975 1 TRENCIIING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR WIDENING TRENCH BOTTOM WITII DIRT REMOVING AUGER [76] Inventor: Russeil L. McMurray, RR. No. 2,

Du Quoin, 111. 62832 221 Filed: Sept. 28, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 401,634

[52] US. Cl. 37/87; 37/80 A; 37/81; 37/189', 37/DIG. 16 [51] Int. Cl E021'5/06 [58] Field of Search 37/87, 80 A, DIG. 16, 81, 37/82, 189, 191

Primary ExaminerClifford D. Crowder Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT An attachment for a trenching machine for widening the bottom of the trench. A first member is mounted to the trenching machine and has a second member pivotally mounted thereon. A third member pivotally mounted to the second member has a rotatably driven auger mounted thereon along with a plurality of blades positioned on the auger. The blades enlarge the bottom of the trench with the dirt being conveyed upwardly by the auger. A pair of plates are slidably mounted to the third member and are extendable outwardly against the bottom side walls of the trench. A cylinder motor connected between the second and third member positions the plates and blade cutting edges with respect to the vertical axis. Another hydraulic cylinder motor connected to and between the first and second members is operable to pivot the auger and blades into and out of the trench.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JUL2 91975 SHEET TRENCHING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR WIDENING TRENCI-I BOTTOM WITH DllRT REMOVING AUGER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of trenching machines and attachments therefor.

2. Description of the Prior Art Building engineers specify a certain shaped ditch for receiving concrete footings. The ditch is wider at the bottom than at the top of the ditch. It is possible to dig the trench with conventional trenching machines and then to widen the bottom of the trench with a spade Some machines have been provided for widening the trench bottom. Devices of particular interest are disclosed in the following US. Pat. Nos:

1,371,752 issued to J. E. Funk;

3,235,982 issued to V. A. Krohn;

3,286,377 issued to G. H. Long; and

3,540,139 issued to K. W. Gethmann et al. Despite the prior art devices, an attachment for a trenching machine has not been provided which will simultaneously widen the bottom of the trench while removing the loose dirt which results from the widening of the bottom of the trench. Disclosed herein is such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is in an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig the trench and carry dirt out of the trench, the attachment includes a frame mounted to the machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, the attachment includes first means on the frame operable to lower the blades to the bottom of the trench and second means on the frame and connected to the blades operable to rotate the blades against the trench and widen the bottom of the trench wherein the improvement comprises third means mounted to the frame and positioned adjacent the blades with the blades positioned between the trenching machine and the third means which is operable to engage opposite sides of the trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by the third means, and an auger having the blades mounted thereon with the auger mounted on the axle and rotatable simultaneously with the blades to convey dirt from the blades and third means and onto the trenching machine for the removal of dirt from the trench.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a trenching machine which will widen the bottom of the trench while simultaneously remov ing loose dirt. v

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved attachment for a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a ditch.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRiEF DESCRIPTEON OF THE DRAWlNGS FIG. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows with the auger rotated for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1., there is shown an attachment ill on a trenching machine 11 for widening the bottom of the trench. Trenching machine It includes a trencher boom 12 having an endless chain 13 mounted thereon. Chain 13 includes a plurality of blades 14 secured thereon in the conventional manner for digging the trench.

A pair of braces 35, one of which is shown in FIG. 1, are attached to opposite sides of trencher boom 12. Braces 15 are also attached to tube 16 through which bar 17 extends. Bracket l8 may be attached either to bar 17 or tube I6 and has a hydraulic cylinder 19 mounted thereon. Best results are obtained when bracket 18 is attached to bar 17. A second bar 20 is attached to bracket 21 which is pivotally mounted by fastener 22 to the end of bar 17. Piston rod 23 of cylinder motor 19 is attached to bracket ill for the pivotal movement of bar 21) with respect to bar I7 to allow for the raising and lowering of the ditch widening apparatus.

A second hydraulic cylinder 24 is pivotally attached to bracket 21 and has its piston rod attached to frame 25 which is pivotally mounted by fastener 26 to bar 20. A hydraulic motor 27 is mounted on frame 25 and has an output shaft connected by coupling 28 to drive shaft 29 rotatably mounted within bearing blocks 34) and 3H secured to frame A helical auger 32 is secured to the bottom of shaft 29.

Frame 25 has a pair of walls 34 and 35 slidably mounted thereto which are connected by coupling 36 to the end of the extendable piston rod 37 of hydraulic cylinder motor 3% mounted to frame 25. Frame 25 includes a pair of spaced apart walls for receiving each plate 34 and 35, For example, frame 25 includes a pair of spaced apart walls 39 and 4t (FIG. i) forming a slot all through which plate 34 is slidable. Likewise, another pair of spaced apart walls slidably receive plate 35.. Flates 34 and 3%; have mounted thereto respectively fasteners 42 and 43 which are slidably received respectively in slots 44 and 45. A pair of projections at limit the outward movement of the plates whereas a second pair of projections 47 limit the inward movement of the plates. By retracting rod 37, the plates are caused to pivot inwardly whereas the opposite is true when rod 3'7 is extended Shown in FlG. E5 is the ditch 56 which has been dug by trenching machine Ell in the embodiment shown in the drawings, auger 32 includes four blades 5H, 52, 53

and 54. Each blade has a cutting edge which is positioned a different radial distance from shaft 29 than the remaining cutting edges. For example blade 51 extends outwardly 4 inches beyond auger 32 whereas blade 52 extends only 3 inches beyond auger 32. Blades 53 and 54 extend respectively 2 inches and 1 inch beyond auger 32. The blades are positioned 90 apart in order that the blades may be pivoted downwardly into the ditch without engaging the ditch side walls until the auger is rotated. Each blade is positioned at a different axial location along shaft 29. For example, blade 51 is the bottom most blade whereas blade 52 is located 2 inches higher than blade 51. Blade 53 is located 2 inches higher than blade 52 whereas blade 54 is located 2 inches higher than blade 53; I

Each blade 51 through 54 is mounted to the helical flight 33 of auger 32 with the blades being spaced apart vertically along the axis of rotation of the auger. Thus, as the dirt is scraped away from the bottom side walls of the trench, the dirt is conveyed upwardly by the auger. To contain and remove the loose dirt, the pair of back up plates 34 and 35 are necessary and must conform to the size and the shape of the ditch desired. Plates 34 and 35 are in the retracted position when the frame is lowered into the trench by hydraulic cylinder 19. Hydraulic motor 27 is activated when the auger is at the bottom of the trench causing the auger to rotate causing blades 51 through 54 to cut away the desired amount of dirt thereby flaring the trench. After the trenching machine and attachment is moved forward 2 or 3 inches, hydraulic cylinder 38 is activated causing walls 34 and 35 to push out to the flared part of the trench. The loose dirt is thereby forced by walls 34 and 35 onto the auger which is still rotating and cutting. At this time, the cutting chain E3 of the trenching machine is engaged and the dirt is carried out of the trench by the cutting chain. With all parts in motion the whole machine proceeds forward trenching and flaring the trench in one operation. The dirt conveyed upwardly by the auger will eventually spill onto the chain l3 so as to be removed from the trench. The shape of the flared part of the trench may be changed merely by changing the shape of the teeth on the auger along with the respective axial and radial positions of each blade. Each blade 51 through 54 intersects the vertical axis which extends through shaft 29 at an acute angle. Likewise, walls 34 and 35 intersect the vertical axis at an acute angle. As shown in FIG. 1, the acute angle 60 which each blade 51 through 54 forms with the vertical axis is the same as the acute angle 61 which walls 34 and 35 form with respect to the vertical. For example, angle 60 is equal to angle of (FIG. 1). In order to control angles 60 and 61, cylinder 24 is activated to pivot frame 25 with respect to the vertical axis. The cutting edge of each blade is located on the upwardly extending portion. For example, blade 52 has an upwardly extending portion 63 having the cutting edge located thereon. The cutting edges of each blade are positioned a fixed radial distance from shaft 29 with each radial distance being different. Likewise, the cutting edges are located at different axial positions along the axis of rotation extending centrally through shaft 29. It is to be understood that various hydraulic hoses are used for the motors and cylinders although none are shown in the drawing. An advantage of the apparatus disclosed herein over the prior art devices is the fact that the auger lifts the majority of the dirt removed from the bottom side walls of the trench and dumps the dirt onto the cutting chains thereby providing for relatively less dirt for the backupwalls to drag through the trench.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is: 1. In an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom ofa trench wherein. the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out i of said trench, said attachment includes a frame;

mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trenchwherein the improvement comprises:

second means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said second meanswhich is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to we vent loose dirt from passing by said second means; and, an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades;

said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle;

said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades;

at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle;

said second means includes a pair of walls mounted ening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching ma-- chine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out of said trench, said attachment includes a frame mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame operable to lower said blades to the bottom of said trench and second means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trench wherein the improvement comprises:

third 'means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said third means which is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by said third means; and,

an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades to convey dirt from said blades and third means and onto said trenching machine for the removal of dirt from the trench;

said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle;

said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades;

at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle;

said third means includes a pair of walls slidably mounted to said frame and motor means mounted to said frame and connected to said pair of walls operable to retract and extend said pair of walls against side walls of said trench;

said frame includes a first member mounted to said trenching machine, a second member pivotally mounted to said first member with said first means connected between said first member and said second member and operable to cause said second member to pivot on said first member, and a third member pivotally mounted to said second member, said axle and said second means are mounted to said third member; and,

said pair of walls are positioned at an acute angle with respect to vertical, said cutting edges are each positioned at an acute angle identical to said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical.

3. The attachment of a claim 2 wherein:

said frame includes a cylinder motor connected to and between said second member and said third member to set said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical. 

1. In an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out of said trench, said attachment includes a frame mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trench wherein the improvement comprises: second means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said second means which is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by said second means; and, an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades; said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle; said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades; at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle; said second means includes a pair of walls mounted to said frame and means mounted to said frame and connected to said pair of walls operable to retract and extend said pair of walls against sidewalls of said trench; and, said pair of walls are positioned at an acute angle with respect to vertical, said cutting edges are each positioned at an acute angle identical to said acute angle of said pair of walls.
 2. In an attachment to a trenching machine for widening the bottom of a trench wherein the trenching machine includes a driven endless chain with plates mounted thereon to dig said trench and carry dirt out of said trench, said attachment includes a frame mounted to said machine and having an axle with a plurality of blades mounted thereon, said attachment includes first means on said frame operable to lower said blades to the bottom of said trench and second means on said frame and connected to said blades operable to rotate said blades against said trench and widen the bottom of said trench wherein the improvement comprises: third means mounted to said frame and positioned adjacent said blades with said blades positioned between said trenching machine and said third means which is operable to engage opposite sides of said trench subsequent to widening and to prevent loose dirt from passing by said third means; and, an auger having said blades mounted thereon with said auger mounted on said axle and rotatable simultaneously with said blades to convey dirt from said blades and third means and onto said trenching machine for the removal of dirt from the trench; said blades each have a cutting edge positioned a fixed radial distance from said axle; said radial distance of at least some of said blades is different than said radial distance for at least some of the remaining blades; at least some of said cutting edges are located at different axial positions along said axle; said third means includes a pair of walls slidably mounted to said frame and motor means mounted to said frame and connected to said pair of walls operable to retract and extend said pair of walls against side walls of said trench; said frame includes a first member mounted to said trenching machine, a second member pivotally mounted to said first member with said first means connected between said first member and said second member and operable to cause said second member to pivot on said first member, and a third member pivotally mounted to said second member, said axle and said second means are mounted to said third member; and, said pair of walls are positioned at an acute angle with respect to vertical, said cutting edges are each positioned at an acute angle identical to said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical.
 3. The attachment of a claim 2 wherein: said frame includes a cylinder motor connected to and between said second member and said third member to set said acute angle of said pair of walls with respect to vertical. 